Let's Talk Deodorant: It's the Pits!

I have been on the hunt for a natural deodorant (that actually works) for a long time. I regret to admit that I had given up and resorted back to my deodorant that contained aluminum for the security of knowing that I'd be smellin' fresh. Well lately, I have been back on the hunt and have tried out a few and would likely to share my reviews. That being said, you should know that I am in no way promoting any particular brand and have not been paid to do such reviews. I simply am a woman on a mission to find better, safer self-care products that work, and to share that info with you in hopes you can do the same.

Okay- first I tried "Kiss my face: Active Life Deodorant" in lavender scent (Walmart). It went on smoothly, dried quickly, smelled nice...so far so good...butttt thennnnnn I went for a run. Here is where the trouble was. While I don't consider myself to be a particularly "smelly" person, I began to feel self-conscious while wearing this deodorant. I found myself doing the oh-so-embarassing "sniff-checks". And let me tell you, that's not a cute look for anyone. I always had to bring a back up of my former brand deodorant when I wore it out (even not-exercising) and I never really felt the fresh scent lasted.

Next I tried "Yes to Charcoal: Detoxifying Tea Tree Natural Charcoal Deodorant" (Target). It was definitely different than the first. It was black in color, as it was charcoal, BUT went on clear and did not get on my clothes. That was a win! This one went on smoothly but did leave a little bit of a wet feeling. I didn't really mind, because it seemed to go away fairly quickly but what I DID NOT like was the sensation it gave. The tea tree oil made my armpits tingle. At first I thought, "OK this isn't bad. It's almost kind of nice." 3 min later.. "Ok, it's a bit strong." 5 min later..."OH MY GOODNESS my armpits are on fire." It felt like I had applied IcyHot to my pits. After one week of wear, it left my armpits bright red as if they had been burned. BUTTT it did work. The tea tree smell fades and charcoal neutralizes odor so you are left smelling like nothing, even after working out. While that was a plus and left me hopeful, I had to stop its use due to the irritation which was made worse with application after shaving

Next, I tried "Think Sport Natural Deodorant" in Aloe and Tea Flower scent (Wegmans). I tried this one because it scored a 1 in regards to safety concerns by the Environmental Working Group (EWG) which is important to me as I know how thorough their testing is. This deodorant smells really good. However, its drawback is the texture of the deodorant. It is kind of sandy and it does not go on smoothly. It sort of flakes up under your arms, and you have to dab it in. I have been applying a dab of coconut oil on the top of the stick to aid in ease of application. That sounds super annoying, I know, but I have to tell you guys, this stuff works REALLY well. I don't worry about stinking up a place at all while wearing this one. After running and sweating a good amount, it still leaves you smelling just as good as when you first applied it. I was really impressed with that. The texture of the deodorant and ease of application is definitely an issue, but for now, it is not enough of a concern for me to switch AGAIN and try another brand (yet). Though I do think the perfect natural deodorant is out there somewhere. I like that it is EWG tested and smells great. And it doesn't seem to leave marks on clothing once it is properly rubbed in. It is also gentle on my skin and is non-irritating.

I would LOVE to hear from you all if you use natural deodorant. Anyone out there use a powder? What brand/type of deodorant do you use and how does it compare to the ones I have tried? Fortunately for us, cleaner options have recently become more readily available in drugstores and grocery stores. Drop a comment and let us know so there can be more pairs of fresh smelling pits out there! ;)

xox

-MB